GENERAL SANTOS CITY (4 September 2013) - City Mayor Ronnel Rivera happily celebrated his birthday with the vendors and patrons of the city public market last Saturday (August 31).
Although the early morning party came as a surprise to the mayor, he was obviously happy that he was able to share an early birthday celebration with the people at the market.
“I am happy that I am here... This birthday is one of a kind,” a smiling Rivera said amidst numerous greetings and handshakes.
It was later learned that Rivera had a hint about the plans of his staff but generally thought he was at the public market to attend a clean-up drive oblivious to the exact preparations made by the organizers of the surprise birthday party.
The city mayor was serenaded with birthday songs as he entered the market which first drew a puzzled smile from him.
After the songs and greetings, Rivera joined the guest and people present in a “boodle fight.”
“Boodle fight,” is a military eating tradition where the food is served in a table covered with banana leaves and eaten together by everyone present regardless of rank and stature - using the hands. It literally translate to “attack the food.”
Local vendors also remarked on the lack of qualms showed by the mayor when it came to joining the “boodle fight.”
Rivera is known as a scion of one of - if not the richest man in the city.
After the formalities, Rivera also took the opportunity to roam around the public market to inspect what should be improved in the area.
He also led the blessing of the Breast Feeding Room located inside the Multi Purpose Hall, 2nd floor of the market building.
Rivera also led the Memorandum of Agreement-signing between City Hall and the Gen. Santos City Government Employees Association on the temporary usage of the Multi Purpose Hall as a City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council outpost.
Prior to the celebration, a “Linis Palengke” drive was also conducted as initiated by the students from Notre Dame of Dadiangas University, Gen. Santos Foundation Inc. College, Holy Trinity College and the Philippine National Police. (GENSAN INFO OFFICE/Ian John Lagare)
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